Motor vehicle speed control



Dec. 1, 1953 I e. HOENER MOTOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed June 50, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ag l.

INVENTOR.

ATTD RN EYS Dec. 1, 1953 G. HOENER 2,661,071

MOTOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Filed June 30, 1950 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 h 29 4? 130 :11)? z 3A4 a 3: 28 13 71 68 G 1 -Mi 70 IN VEN TOR. Lam r 5607? 14 06/2673.

ATTD R N EYE Patented Dec. 1, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOTOR VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL Lavern George Hoener, East Chicago, Ind. Application June 30, 1950, Serial No. 171,294

This invention relates to speed control devices used in combination with speedometers and accelerator pedals for motor vehicles, and in particular this invention relates to a governor or speed control device in which the arm of a butterfly or control valve of a carbureter is actuated by a motor and manually set variable resistors in combination with limit switches are provided to control the movement of the arm, the said limit switches being combined with the speedometer and connected with a plurality of circuits for both forward and reverse to the carbureter control arm acutating motor.

' The purpose of this invention is to provide a motor vehicle speed control device in which means is provided for compensating for hill climbing and also in which the device may be used in combination with a foot accelerator pedal or may be installed to replace the accelerator pedal.

The speed control device of this invention may also be used on vehicles with or without a clutch and when used in combination with the foot accelerator pedal it functions similar to the hand control throttle.

In the conventional type of speed control where the movement of the accelerator pedal is limited it is difiicult to compensate for hill climbing and the speed of the vehicle is consequently retarded. With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a control device that is manually set to desired speeds and which operates a mot qr to adjust the position of the carbureter control valve accordingly. 7 I The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for constructing a speed control device whereby the foot accelerator pedal is eliminated and the speeed is adjusted by man'- ually turning a button;

Another obj'ect'of the invention is to provide an improved speed control device that may readily be installed on vehicles now in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved motor vehicle speed control device which is of a comparatively simple and'economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies a speed control device having a manually actuated needle or pointer journaled in a dial having speed indicating numerals thereon with a speedometer rotatably mounted in combination with and geared to the pointer, a stationary disc havinga: plurality of contacts positioned to be engaged by the needle of the speedometer, a motor geared to a 6 Claims. (01. 180-821) control valve arm of a carbureter and actuated through circuits of the contacts of the discs, and means breaking the circuit for limiting the movement of the carbureter control valve arm.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings wherein:

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating the relative positions of the parts with the circuits for connecting the contacts of the setting discs to a motor geared to the carbureter control valve arm, as shown in Fig. 5. I

Figure 2 is a side elevational view showing the speed setting and indicating device.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view showing a revolving speedometer in combination with a motor contact disc and operating elements corresponding with the element upon which the in dicator is mounted and arranged to operate therewith.

Figure 4 is a cross section through the contact disc for controlling circuits to the motor that actuates the control valve of the carbureter.

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view illustrating a motor connected to a carbureter throttle valve arm with means for opening circuits to the motor and with the circuitsto the motor corresponding with the circuits of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawings wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts the motor vehicle speed control device of this invention includes a speed indicating disc ll! having a pointer ll thereon controlled by a button l2 and positioned at the end of the control cylinder commonly known as a Selsyn and indicated by the numeral l3, a similar control element l4 geared to a speedometer I5 by gears 16 and IT, a stationary contact disc l8, a reversible motor I!) and circuit opening switches 20 and 2!.

The indicator it] is provided with a graduated scale 22 having numerals 23 thereon indicating miles per hour and the pointer l I is mounted on a shaft 24 that is rotated by the button l2 throughfia stem 25, a worm 26 and a worm gear 21. The gears are mounted in a suitable casing 28 on the under surface of the indicator I!) and the indicator is suspended from the element I3 by brackets 29 and 30.

The element 13 is mounted in a clamp 3| that may be attached, by a bracket 32 to the instru ment board of the vehicle, or to the steering Wheel post, or it may be mounted on any suitable part of the vehicle. The clamp 3| is attached to the bracket 32 by a screw 33 and the bracket may be mounted by screws 34. T

The element 13 is connected to the element M by a plurality of wires in a cable 35 and the gear 16 is carried by a shaft 35 extended from the element !4 whereby the gear rotates with the pointer H and consequently rotates the speedometer 15 through the gear 11.

The speedometer I is journaled in a bearing 31 which is mounted on a bracket 38 that may be positioned at any suitable point in the vehicle and the stationary disc i8 is suspended from the bracket 38 by a U-shape bracket 3% The disc I8 is provided with a neutral position 40 in which a contact arm 4| is positioned in Figure l. The disc i8 is stationary and the arm 4| travels over the surface of the disc to engage contacts thereon. The disc I8 is provided with three short contacts for forward speed, .as indicated by the numeral 42 and one elongated contact 43 also for forward travel and on the opposite side of the neutral point contacts 44 and 45 are provided for reverse.

The contacts .42 are connected by wires 46, .41 and 4.8 to corresponding points on a variable re sister 49 and the contact 43 is connected by a Wire .50 directly to the motor through a connecting .wire 5|. The wires from the contact disc to the motor are connected through the limit switch 2!) which mechanically breaks the circuit when the components It, 1.4, and 13 are in a position corresponding to Wide open throttle. merely a safety device; inasmuch as, the carburetor may be wide open before the speed of the car has reached the indicated speed of indicator II.

The contacts 44 on the reverse side of the contact disc are connected by wires 52, 53 and 54 to the variable resistor 55 and the contact 45 is connected directly through a wire '56 to the motor. The reverse side of the motor is also provided with a wire 51 that extends directly to the selector switch 58 whereby a rapid deceleration circuit is provided for closing the control valve of the carbureter. These wires of the reverse circuit of the motor are also connected through a limit switch, as indicated by the numeral 2!, whereby the circuit to the motor is broken when the carburetor is fully closed and the speed of the car has not decreased to the lower setting of indicator II.

The control circuits from the contact disc I8 are connected to the forward and reverse terminals of the motor, respectively and the ground side of the motor is connected by a wire 59 to the ignition switch so of the vehicle and from the ignition switch through a wire 61 to the selector switch, which is connected by wires 62 to a battery 63, the opposite terminal of which is connected to a round 64.

The contact arm 4! of the contact disc i8 is connected to a ground through the contacts .65, the-post G6 and the connection 67. The contact 65 engages the shaft 58 which extendsfrom the speedometer and which extends through an opening 69 in the contact disc l8 as shown in Figure 4;. The arm 4| is carried by a hub in that is positioned on an insulating sleeve H and the lower end of the sleeve H rests upon a. shoul der i2 spaced from the upper end of the shaft.

The motor I9 actuates the arm l3 of the control valve of the carbureter through a rod 7.4

which is pivotally connected to the lower end of the arm 13 by a pin and toa bar 16 by a pin 11, the arm 16 being mounted on a shaft 18 of a gear 79 that meshes with a worm 8!! on a shaft 8| of the motor. The rod is provided with pro- This is jections 82 and 83 that are positioned to engage extending ends 34 and 85 respectively of the stationary limit switches 29 and 2! whereby with the limit switches positioned at the extreme end of the travel of the rod 14 the motor and movement of the throttle valve will stop when the switches are opened.

The limit switch is provided with contact bars suspended by a spring hinge 8'5 and the switch 2| is provided with contact bars suspended by a similar spring hinge 81.

With the parts arranged in this manner the pointer II is set by the button [2 to the desired speed which, as illustrated in Figure 1 is 60, and as the pointer is set the control elements l3 and 1.4 actuate the gear It accordingly which rotates the speedometer and as the speedometer is rotate the arm 4! passes over the stationary contact'disc 18 to a position corresponding with that required to actuate the vehicle to the speed of 6.0 miles per hour. With the parts set in this manner the motor is actuates the arm. 13 to a position corresponding with the speed and with the limit switches 28 and 2i connected in all circuits the motor I9 stops when the arm 1.3 reaches the end of its travel. For city use the speed may be set to 20 or miles per hour and for traveling on highways it may be set to a greater number of, miles per hour, however, the limit switches are positioned beyond the range of speed with the switch at .one end corresponding to the closed position of the fuel feed or throttle valve and with the switch at the opposite end beyond high speed, thereby preventing excessive travel or the parts and prev ntin damage to the device and vehicle.

The motor actuating the arm of the carbureter control valve is operated at four different speeds ,for acceleration and at four difierent speeds for deceleration or in reverse controlled y five circuits. The fifth circuit provides for rapid deceleration when the .brakes of the vehicle are applied or when quick stopping is desired.

With the switch 60 connected to the ignition switch the circuit is open when the ignition is turned ed.

The selsyn" includes parts 13, and I4. Indicator ll moves the same are degrees and same direction as 16, and also the same are degrees but in the reverse direction as the movable speedometer l5. The desired speed indicated by pointer II will always coincide with the neutral point on the stationary disc I8. F gure 1 shows desired speed of 60. '60 M. P. H. on speedometer I5 is at neutral point 40, speedometer needle in Fig. 1 on .60 M. P. H. Car is traveling .60 M. P. 1-1.. It the speed of the car .falls below the desired speed indicated by H, Al revolves to contact 42 for instance, motor 1.9 is energized to Open throttle until speedometer needle 41 moves back to neutral contact 40. If the speed then goes over that desired, contacts are made which close thethrottle a little. Whenever 4| is off neutral point 40, motor l9 will be energized accordingly. There are no dead spaces between energizing contacts. If indicator is moved to 30 M. P. H. desired speed, i6 and I5 are revolved thesame number of arc degrees but in reverse directions. Disc 8 remains stationary.

At this setting speedometer needle 4| is pointing in the general direction of the terminal 46 in the figure indicating 30 MJP. H. on speedometer, and I5 coincides with stationary point 40. Speedometer needle 4| makes contact with 44 and energizes motor l-s to close throttle." Motor continues to close" throttle at various speeds denoted'by various contacts 44 and 45 until either the motor operating circuit is opened by 83 against 85 or is broken by 4| arriving at neutral point 40. As long as the speed of the car as indicated by 4| is the same as the desired speed indicated by H, the motor will notbe energized and the rod l4 will hold the throttle in the same position. When the caris traveling at the'speed indicated by at any setting, speedometer needle 4| will. always 'be in the position as shown in Fig. 1, resting on neutral point 40.

A special contact corresponding to 100 M. P. H. setting of indicator I could be installed to energize motor l9 in such a manner as to open the throttlefully in a short time, giving the same effect as pushing the accelerator pedal to the floor board. From a dead stop this would be a jack-rabbit start, using the foot pedal 58 to engage the system. Double switch foot pedal 58 engages the system in one position and closes'the throttle rapidly in the other position which would suffice for normal city driving. Brake application also cuts out system and necessitates resetting foot pedal 58 to engage the system. With reference to Fig. 1 in such a case, foot pedal 58 would be in open position, system disengaged, throttle closed. Indicator would be set at 100 M. P. H., pointing in the general direction of the numeral 22 in the figure, disc It would revolve clockwise the same are degrees and speedometer l5 would revolve counter-clockwise the same are degrees, indicating that now 100 M. P. H. on speedometer l5 coincides with neutral point 40. Disc |8 with its contacts 40, 42, 43, 44, and 45 remains stationary in position shown in Fig. 1. Speedometer needle 4| is now in a position pointing in the general direction of the numeral 61 in Fig. 1. When circuit is closed by foot pedal 58, the throttle is opened in a short time. Before reaching the desired speed, depending upon desired speed, reset indicator II and disengage system by foot pedal 58 until throttle has closed sufficiently to approximate desired speed, then engage system again by foot pedal 58.

Use standard carburetor and valve control. The ignition switch only provides a means for completing the electrical circuit through the use of the car battery.

It will be understood that other modifications may be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A speed control unit for a motor vehicle having a carbureter comprising a button actuated indicator, a contact disc having a plurality of contacts thereon, a speedometer having a contact arm extended therefrom, means rotatably mounting the said speedometer with the contact arm thereof positioned to engage the contacts of the contact disc, means rotating the speedometer and contact arm thereof with the pointer of the indicator, means actuating a control valve of the carbureter to correspond with the position of the contact arm of the speedometer, and means breaking circuits to the control valve actuating means for limiting the operation of the said 0011- trol valve.

2. A speed control unit for a motor vehicle having a carbureter comprising a button actuated indicator, a contact disc having a plurality of contacts thereon, a speedometer having a contact arm extended therefrom, means rotatably mounting the said speedometer withthe contact arm thereof positioned to engage the contacts of the contact disc, means rotating the speedometer and contact arm thereof with the pointer of the indicator, means actuating a control valve of the carbureter to correspond with the position of the contact arm and speedometer, and means breaking circuits to the control valve actuatin means for limiting the operation of the control valve actuating means.

3. A speed control unit for a motor vehicle having an ignition switch and a carbureter comprising a button actuated indicator, a stationary con-tact disc having a plurality of contacts thereon, a speedometer having a contact arm extended therefrom, means rotatably mounting the said speedometer with the contact arm thereof positioned to engage the contacts of the contact disc, means rotating the speedometer and contact arm thereof with the pointer of the indicator, means actuating a control valve of the carbureter to correspond with the position of the contact arm and speedometer, means breaking circuits to the control valve actuating means for limiting the operation of the control valve actuating means, and suitable circuits connecting the said contact discs with the control valve actuating mean-s through the ignition switch of the vehicle.

4. A speed control unit for a motor vehicle having an ignition switch and a. carbureter comprising a button actuated indicator, a stationary contact disc having a plurality of contacts thereon, a speedometer having a contact arm extended therefrom, means rotatably mounting the said speedometer with the contact arm thereof positioned to engage the contacts of the contact disc, means rotating the speedometer and contact arm thereof with the pointer of the indicator, means actuating a control valve of the carbureter to correspond with the position of the contact arm and speedometer, means varying the speed of the control valve actuating means, means breaking circuits to the control valve actuating means for limiting the operation of the control valve actuating means, and suitable circuits connecting the said contact discs with the control valve actuating means through the ignition switch of the vehicle.

5. In a speed control unit for a motor vehicle having a carbureter, the combination which comprises an indicator having a pointer coacting with a graduated scale showing miles per hour, a button geared to the pointer for manually setting the pointer to desired speed, a speedometer having a contact arm extended from one end thereof, a contact disc having a. neutral point with contacts for forward travel on one side of the neutral point and contacts for travel in reverse on the opposite side of said neutral point, means journaling the speedometer with the contact arm thereof positioned to engage the contact points of the contact disc, means rotating the speedometer and contact arm thereof as the pointer of the indicator is actuated by the button, an arm extended from the control means of the carbureter, a motor geared to the arm for actuating the same, means breaking circuits to the motor for limiting the movement of the arm actuating connection with the motor, and a plurality of circuits connecting the contacts of the contact discs to the motor for actuating the arm of the control valve of the carbureter to different positions.

6. In a speed control unit for a motor vehicle having a carbureter, the combination which comprises an indicator having a pointer coacting with a graduated scale showing miles per hour, a button geared to the pointer for manually setting the pointer to desired speed, a speedometer having a contact arm extended from one end thereof, a contact disc having a neutral point with contacts for forward travel on one side of the neutral point and contacts for travel in reverse on the opposite side of said neutral point, means journaling the speedometer with the con tact arm thereof positioned to engage the contact points of the contact disc, means rotating the speedometer and contact arm thereof as the pointer of the indicator is actuated by the button, an arm extended from the control means of the carbureter, a motor geared to the arm for actuating the same, means breaking circuits to the motor for limiting the movement of the arm actuatingconnection with the motor, and a plurality of circuits connecting the contacts of the contact discs to the motor for'actuating the .arm of the control valve of the carbureter to different positions, said limiting means positioned in the cir cuits to the motor whereby an voperating circuit of the motor is broken by the said limiting means.

LAVERN GEORGE HOENER,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,345,539 vFlynn July 6, 1920 2,313,505 Benjamin Mar. .9, 1943 2,442,149 Ruth et a1. May 25, 1948 

